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Celebrity US chef Marcus Samuelsson from Red Rooster in Harlem has taken on a new role as chief culinary coach to the New York City Football Club in a bid to entice the players into eating more healthily.
Image: Katie Cahalin
Samuelsson will visit the local team once a month offering the 25 players tasty alternatives to their usual food routine. Each of the team, amounting to 15 different nationalities, will also have a representative menu item on the Red Rooster menu, like for Finnish midfielder Alex Ring, captain of the team, with a Nordic-themed dish.
The chef and self-confessed football fan announced the news on twitter:
As a huge soccer fan & lifelong player, I'm excited to announce a fun partnership with @NYCFC; I'll join them as Chief Culinary Coach. Can't wait to curate menus for the team, join them in community events, and feature dishes at @roosterharlem based on the players. Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/CrJOJlVONn
— Marcus Samuelsson (@MarcusCooks) April 10, 2019
The Swedish raised chef will be concentrating on flavour and making food fun in order to get the team excited about food. “If you’re on a health kick but it’s not delicious, you’re not going to stay on it,” Samuelsson told the New York Post.
So far the menu includes a tasty set of dishes like; Vietnamese steamed halibut with miso and lemongrass and apricot glazed chicken breast.
Image: Katie Cahalin
To encourage the continuity of healthy eating Samuelsson will also host cooking demonstrations to teach the players healthier cooking techniques, like steaming fish, to help them look after themselves better at home. “[It’s] only going to help them perform better,” he says. “Every meal counts.”
The proof will be in the pudding! The team is only 4 years old, so let's see if Sameulsson's menu sets them up for this season.
It's not the first time Samuelson has taken an interest in sport and food. Back in 2012 he was commenting on the winning Olympic Swedish team's diet.
